Yv E. Nay captures the potential and pitfalls of the contemporary marriage equality and rainbow family movement in Switzerland. Feeling Family makes a compelling case for rethinking the boundaries between economy and society in a description of how emotions and economics interact in shaping the desires and goals of the movement as they respond to the current moment of neoliberal precarity.
Switzerland’s attitude towards the rights of its Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Queer (LGBTQ) citizens makes it appear slightly out of step with the legal developments in some of its surrounding countries. This is particularly true when looking at the state of legal recognition of non-heterosexual partnerships and families with children, frequently referred to as ‘rainbow families’. Registered partnership was made legal for same-sex couples in 2007 and remains the only legally recognized form of non-heterosexual relationships.
Starting a family with children outside the confines of heterosexual marriage is even further restricted. Only as recently as 2018 have same-sex couples been granted legal access to stepchild adoption, where a new partner can adopt their partner’s existing child. Access to assistive reproductive technologies or surrogacy remains heavily restricted, often while the same methods are partially available for heterosexual couples through fertility treatment.
